Booker T recently talked to Wrestling Inc about his transition from commentary to doing pre-show panels, The New Day, and how Renee Young has been doing on commentary. As always, the WWE veteran had plenty of quotable answers. Check out some of what he had to say below.
On people saying Renee Young or Coach took his job:
I wouldn’t say she took Coach’s spot and Coach didn’t take my spot. It doesn’t work like that. It was an opportunity, first and foremost, for Renee, who has done a great job. Renee has put in a lot of time. People don’t think about that, first and foremost. They just think about, ‘well, it’s a new woman getting a shot at the commentary table.’ But Renee has put in countless hours, time in, time out, day-to-day, day in and day out, studying for that position. Do you know what I mean? For her to actually get that position is awesome! I think a lot of times, the internet and social media, take Renee, they want to dog on her saying things about her and I’m like, ‘if you only knew what that job entailed and how hard it really is.’ Props to her. Kudos to her. And as far as she can take it, I hope she’ll run with it for as long as Michael Cole has run with it. With what, 100 years? So it’s awesome for her to actually finally get that recognition that she well-deserved.
On Crown Jewel’s Kick-Off Show featuring all African-Americans:
I didn’t look at it like that because I don’t look at Coach as being black. I’m just messing with you! Naw, Coach is one of those guys you don’t look at him as a black guy or a white guy. He’s just Coach. Do you know what I mean? Myself, I mean, people can say what they want, but I’ve never played the race card in the [professional wrestling] business or anything like that. I’ve always wanted my fans to love me for coming out and performing. When they hear Booker T’s music, they come the same way no matter what color they are. And with David [Otunga], I’ve never really looked at it that way. I really didn’t, but I’m sure people are going to look at it that way and take things away from it, take what they will. But I think we had a great time, we had a great time, and more importantly, it wasn’t about us. It was about the guys.
Why the New Day shouldn’t break up:
Do you know what, man, right now, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the way I look at it. This thing has done great things for all of those guys. Xavier, Kofi was kind of stuck in a rut there. It was still Kofi doing Kofi and Kofi having to go out there and be the ultimate [professional] wrestler with Kofi going out there and having to run, run, run. And be that ultimate babyface. Big E trying to find leverage, but together, it seemed like these guys have gelled quite well together, so for me, I say, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ If we could run with it for another six months to a year, let’s run with it for another six months or a year because after that, you may have to do a heel turn. And then, where do we go after that? So I think longevity more than ‘what can we get out of this today?’ I say, ‘what can we get out of this tomorrow?’
Make sure to check out the full interview for more.
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